Get our free mobile app

Austin, MN (KROC AM News) - A Mower County man who was charged with criminal vehicular homicide after being involved in a deadly traffic accident has been ordered to serve jail time on the anniversary of the crash.

Over a four-year period.

Sentenced Friday was 33-year-old Christopher Stewart of Lansing. He pleaded guilty in June.

Stewart was driving a pickup truck near Austin in 2019 when he crashed into a car driven by 89-year-old William Regner of Austin, who was killed. Stewart was arrested after deputies noticed signs of impairment. A blood test later indicated he had methamphetamine in his system.

According to a court document filed by Stewart’s attorney, the accident report “lists two contributing factors as it claims that Mr. Stewart was manually operating an electronic communication device while Mr. Regner disregarded other traffic signs and failed to yield right-of-way.”

The document says “Stewart agrees he texted prior to driving, used vape prior to driving and had metabolite of methamphetamine in his system at the the of driving but does not agree that he was texting at the time of the collision.”

Stewart was sentenced to a 48 month prison term that will be stayed during his 10-year probationary period. He has also been ordered to perform 100 hours of community work service. And he was ordered to serve 90 days in jail each year over a four-year period starting in 2022.

Each sentence will begin on May 9th - the anniversary of the deadly crash.

News update: Man drives in the wrong lane all the way from Rochester to Kasson.

Dome House for sale in Minnesota features indoor slide!

If you are in the market for a new house and are looking for something unique, the perfect house just went on the market in Eden Prairie. For just under $3 million, you can own a dome home that not only has an indoor slide, but also features an indoor putting green, amazing landscaping throughout the 1.8 acres, and 8,000+ square footage of contemporary design inside the domes. All the details about this amazing property listed by REALTOR Jason Zoellner of Edina Realty, Inc. - Lakeville can be found here.

 

More From KROC-AM